Retainers

Name: Neo Orthodontics
Telephone: 01665 517855

When your braces or aligners come off, the most important part of your orthodontic treatment is just beginning. It’s the retention phase! During this phase, we use custom retainers to ensure you can keep your beautiful results for a lifetime. We use removable retainers not just vivera.

What is a
retainer?

Retainers are orthodontic appliances worn at the end of treatment to hold your teeth in their new positions. Without a retainer, your teeth will shift back toward their original positions, so it’s important to follow your Specialist Orthodontist’s advice carefully.

There are two types of retainers: fixed retainers and removable retainers.

Your Specialist Orthodontist will advise you which option is best for your smile.

Fixed retainers are small metal wires permanently glued to the back of your teeth to hold them in position. Because they are fixed, you’ll never forget to wear them - but you do need to take extra care to clean around the wires to prevent plaque buildup.
Removable retainers look a bit like Invisalign® clear aligners. At Neo Orthodontics, we use removable retainers, which are smooth, clear, and custom-made to fit your smile exactly. You can take them out to eat and brush your teeth as usual, as long as you wear them as instructed.

How to wear a
retainer

When we give you your custom removable retainers, we will advise you on exactly how you should wear them. Usually, it’s recommended to wear your retainer full-time for the first three month, and then transition to night-time only wear once your teeth have adjusted to their new positions.

Remember to keep your retainers clean, and to always store them in the provided case if you remove them to eat. That’s because it’s all too easy to throw them in the trash by mistake if you put them in a napkin!

A commitment to a
straighter smile

At Neo Orthodontics, your treatment costs include the price of your custom retainers - and 12 months of follow-up care. This is to help you transition into the retention phase, and ensure that your smile ends up exactly how you want it to!

During these follow-up appointments, we’ll make sure your retainer is working as intended, but it’s also your job to wear your retainer exactly as prescribed. As long as you take good care of your teeth and retainer, you should be able to enjoy a beautiful smile for life.